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Macau allows Melco to add 40 new mass gaming tables

Macau’s gambling operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd was granted permission by the authorities to add a total of 40 new-to-market mass gaming live-dealer tables at the start of the year.

The concerned authority dealing with this, Macau’s Gaming Inspection Coordination Bureau (DICJ) gave the required permission over an email to Melco. The email read, “[Melco Resorts] applied for new gaming tables with us and we already granted 40 new-to-market mass gaming tables to [the firm] on January 1” a week ago.

Another leading operator, MGM China Holdings Ltd, which operates the MGM Cotai in Macau, had asked for approval for additional gaming tables, which was given to them on January 1 in an email for 25 tables. The email, however, did not clarify whether the tables were for VIP segment or the mass-market. Macau’s Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong Vai Tac had said that MGM was to receive 125 new-to-market gaming tables, of which 100 will be approved in time for its launch.

After launching Morpheus, a $1.1 billion project, in its famous City of Dreams integrated Resort-Casino in June last year, the property was not allocated any new gaming tables for its official opening. In lieu, Melco Resorts could shift 40 tables from existing operations to Morpheus.

The DICJ, in an email to GGRAsia.com (one of the leading outlets in the gaming industry), stated that the Macanese government would continue to “strictly control the number of gaming tables in the market to foster orderly development. Comprehensive analysis and consideration will be made by the government upon receiving any application for new gaming tables from gaming operators.”

Macau has capped the number of gaming tables since 2013. A policy was made by the government to restrict gaming tables’ annual growth to 3% over a 10-year period that will be applicable till December 2022. As for the end of last year, there were reportedly 6,588 live-dealer tables in Macau. This policy was made in an effort to prevent saturation in the gambling market and to keep it under control.

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